Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Washington to Rome. Left side wins both ends of the flight. During the transatlantic crossing the difference is minimal since the route passes over open ocean and then southern England and northern France at night or in darkness for much of the journey, but the left side also gets better views of the Irish coastline and Cornwall during the European approach. Combined with the DC departure views and the Rome arrival views, left is the clear choice end to end.

During takeoff from Washington Dulles International (IAD), sit on the Left side for the best views. IAD typically departs eastward on runways 01R/01L or westward on 19R/19L. On the dominant eastbound departure toward the Atlantic, the left side faces north and picks up the Washington DC skyline, the Potomac River, and the Capitol Mall area as the aircraft banks right toward its transatlantic heading. Right side faces south toward suburban Virginia with little of note. Notable sights include: Washington DC Mall and Capitol building, Potomac River, National Mall monuments, Chesapeake Bay visible in the distance during climb.

When landing at Fiumicino (FCO), sit on the Left side for the best views. FCO typically lands on runways 16L/16R heading southeast, or 34L/34R heading northwest. On the common 16 approach from the northwest, the left side faces east and gives a clear view of Rome's historic center — the Tiber River, the Colosseum area, and the Vatican — as the aircraft descends over the city. The right side faces west toward the Tyrrhenian Sea and flat coastal plain. Notable sights include: Rome historic center and Colosseum district, Tiber River winding through the city, Vatican and St. Peter's dome, Alban Hills southeast of the city.

The flight from Washington Dulles International (IAD) to Fiumicino (FCO) takes Approximately 9 to 10 hours.

The route tracks northeast from Dulles over the mid-Atlantic states, crosses the Atlantic roughly over Newfoundland and the Grand Banks, passes south of Iceland, crosses southern Ireland and the Celtic Sea, transits southern England or northern France, crosses the Alps or pre-Alpine foothills of Switzerland and northern Italy, then descends over the Po Valley and Apennines into Rome. The Alps crossing is the most visually dramatic midpoint feature if it occurs in daylight.